The Parenting for Faith podcast

We kick off this week, by looking at a question we often ask 'Has God answered our prayer?' and explore some alternatives. In the Q and A section, Rachel explores a question from a single parent about how to frame for their child their relationship journey as they start dating. You can watch the Facebook Live videos about boyfriends and girlfriends at parentingforfaith.org/post/boyfriends-and-girlfriends-facebook-live . The wildcard section this week is a 'book that you don't have time to read'. Anna reviews John Mark Comer's 'The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry' and shares some nuggets of truth that she gleaned from it. Questions for individual reflection or to discuss with others: - When did you last refer to God 'answering prayer'? What did you mean by that? - Whether you are single or married, do you share with your child(ren) anything about your experience of dating? Are there aspects of that you might want to frame for them? - Do you feel like your life is hurried? What helps you and your family slow down, simplify or take a Sabbath?

Rachel shares from her personal experience of life and ministry, some ideas to help you get 'unstuck' when you hit a dead end in helping your kid meet and know God. She answers a question from one of our Facebook Live events on how to help our kids learn to fail well when they live in a world that punishes failure. Anna interviews Simon Parry about the new streaming channel Allstars Kids Club GO. Check it out at www.allstarskidsclub.com

We kick off by talking about The Chosen (www.imdb.com/title/tt9471404/)a multi-season show about the life of Jesus and how we can use different representations of Jesus to chat about how we see Him. Our question this week is from a parent looking at choosing secondary schools. How do we balance the different merits of faith schools, letting the child be key in the decision making and maintaining friendships? Anna chats to Sanna about podcast clubs. Sanna shares how she got started, how it helps her as a parent and top tips if you'd like to start one with some friends. She mentions the Don't Mom Alone website which has more info on podcast clubs. You can check that out at dontmomalone.com/join/ If you are running a podcast club, here are some questions you might want to chat about from this episode: - What is your favourite movie/picture/painting of Jesus and why? - What aspects of Jesus do you feel are often missed out in representations of Jesus in the arts? - When you look at children’s bibles or storybooks, how do you feel about the illustrations of Jesus and the way he comes across? What do you do to help?

In this episode, we explore different types of prayer, such as intercession, corporate prayer and chat and catch. How do we describe these to our children in a way that enables them to engage with it? Olly Goldenberg from Children Can, answers a question about how to equip our children and teenagers to find their own answers in the Bible. Annie Willmot from Honest Conversation shares from her experience as a funeral pastor, about how to talk to children about death, dying and funerals.

Rachel kicks of the New Year by asking how we can frame for our kids what is coming up this year. She unpacks the idea of the law of first mention and what it means for spiritual parenting. She answers a very practical question about what to do if your kid doesn't like the taste of communion. In the wildcard section, Anna interviews Olly Goldenberg of Children Can about the new series of At Home with God. For more details, see ahwg.co.uk

In today' episode, Rachel digs into the power of apology and how to apologise, just in case we need to, over the Christmas holidays! She talks about how you to talk to your kids about Herod and his role in the Christmas story. Finally, Becky shares a reflection from the woods and what birds have to do with Parenting for Faith.

In this special Christmas episode, we look at different characters in the nativity and how they found and met Jesus. We answer a question about how to help kids who are free range during church on a Sunday. In the final section, we look at different muddled views of God that children can get at Christmas and how to unwind them.

Today's first section is all about remembering that you don't have to! There are so many spiritual opportunities at Christmas and Rachel explains why you don't have to take all of them. We answer a question about how to help our children when they are being Christ-like and are rejected for it at school. Finally, Becky shares a powerful reminder of what God has for children in her reflections on a recent trip to Uganda and North and South Sudan.

How do you lead your kids in a decision to follow Christ whilst you're at home? Should we encourage them to pray a specific prayer or wait for them to approach us? Is this a one-off event or an ongoing journey? Becky answers a question about how to support your child through parental separation or divorce. In the wildcard section, Rachel talks about milestones.

We kick off this week's episode by exploring your journey of chat and catch. Rachel answers a question about a toddler who doesn't believe God is real. Anna interviews Lucy Rycroft, author of Redeeming Advent, about how to bring our focus back to God as we prepare for Christmas.